Automatic train-signal.



H. E. BALL.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN SIGNAL.

APPLlcAIloN FILED Dic. 4, |916.

Il 4.799% 9 Patented Nom 2?, 1912?..

2 SHETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY HAZEN n. nant, or Fianna., MICHIGAN.

mancia.

Tocll whomz't may concern V Be It ltnown .that I, `Hazan E. BALL, a

i Citizen of` the United States, residing at Frede., in thecounty of Houghton and State @f hilichigainhave invented certain *new and useful Improvements 1n Automatic Train- Signals, of which the following is a speciwhich may beplaced at a crossing and Voperated by a m-ovingltrain to turn tl e signal to indicate that a train is approaching the crossing and to then release `the signal and permit it to return to the normal position. Y

Another object of the invention is to so construct this signal operating mechanism that it may be carried by the tie supporting the rails and include a rod extending longitudinally of the track andinove to a setting position through the medium of a rocker shaft0 the rod being releasably held in a set position by a trip moved to a releasing position bythe wheels of the car.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this signal that the indicating sign may be carried by a shaft mounted in a vertically extending casing and provided with a lever arm connected with the actuating rod of the track device. y Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal and actuating device which will be very simple in construction and easily installed. V

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- i

Figure l is a top plan view showing the signal in place,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the signal in elevation,

Fig. 3 is a view showing `a fragment of the track device in elevation, and

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The signal post or casing 10 is mounted adjacent the roadway indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l and carries a rotatable shaft 1l having a head or sign board l2 at its upper end positioned in the frame 13 carried by the signal post 10. A lever arm la extends from the lower end of this shaft 11 and is connected with a draw rod 15 so that when the draw rod moves longitudinally, the shaft will be rotated in the casing 10.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC 'renin-sienten.

Patentetllliov.. 2?, 19ML.

Applcationiled December 4, 1916. Serial No. 134539.

It will thus be seen that under normal conditions the .sign board or head 12- will eX tend as shown in Fig. l whereas when the actuating means is moved by the approaching train, the shaft 1l will be rotated to bring the signboard tothe position shown in Fig. 2 in which position it may be easily read.

`The actuating means includes a rod or bar 1G extending' alorg the ties 17 between the rails 18 and having one end connected with the bell crank lever 19 which bell crank lever is connected with the draw rod l5 for imparting movement to the draw rod as the bar lois moved. This bar 16 is connected intermediate its length with the support or guide 18 and it is to be understood that as many of these supports 18 may be provided as necessary. A rocker shaft 20 is journaled in the bearings 20 and is provided with ay lever arm extension 2l connected withthe bar 1G. `A turning or actuating lever entends from this rocker shatt 2O intermediate its length and is provided with a head 23 for engagement by a suitable .trip carried by the train and it will thus be seen that when the train approaches the road. the rocker shaft 20 will be rotated and the bar 16 moved longitudinally thus imparting movement to the shaftV 16 and setting the signal to a danger position. A spring Q-l is connected with the actuating lever 22 and with a base block 25 and serves to yieldably hold the rocker shaft in the position shown in Fig. 3 thus normally retaining` the actuating bar 16 in a position to hold the signal at a safety position. A. latch Q6 is pivotally mounted as shown at 27 and is yieldably held in a position to enter the notch of the bar 16 by the spring 28. a bracing guide 29 being provided intermediate the length of this latch bar and a releasing trigger -30 extending` beneath the outer end of the latch bar and adjacent one of the rails so that when the train passes over the track, the signal will be iirst set to a danger position and after the warning has been given and the train is about to pass Vthe road, one of the wheels of the cars will engage the trip and move the same downwardly thus swinging the latch to a releas ing position and permitting the spring Qil to return the actuating mechanism to its normal position and again set the signal at a safety position. It will thus be seen that I have provided means for indicating that a train is approaching a road crossing and havefurther provided a signalrhaving a simple construction and an actuating means for turning the signal to a set position which is strong and durable and which can be` easily constructed and set up in place. From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will besseen that this signal may be duplicated thus per.

lmeans for yieldably holding the cam lever in a lowered position, a lever arm extending from the rocker shaft, an actuating bar extending longitudinally of the track and connected with the lever arm of the rocker shaft, a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the actuatingbar and the second arm with the draw bar, and a latch positioned for engagement with the actuating bar to releasably hold the same in anl adjusted position with the signal set the latch being moved to a releasing position by a passing train to permit the actuating bars to return to the normal position.

2. A signal including a draw bar, and actuating meanstor the signal including a rocker shaft extending transversely of a track between the rails thereof, a cam lever extending from the rocker shaft, resilient means engaging the cam lever to yield'- ably hold the rocker shaft in a set position meansactuated by a passing train including aslidable bar, a bell crank lever connectingV the slidable bar Ywith the draw bar, means actuated from a passing train for moving the sliding bar longitudinallyinv one direc.- tion as the train passesand yieldably held in an inoperativeA position forreturning the sliding bar to its normal :position after the train passes, a latch pivotally mounted and yieldably held in engagement withy the sliding bar for engaging thesame and releasably holding the same in a set position, and a trigger pivotally mounted and having one end engaging the latch and having the opposite end portion extended for engagement by the wheels of a train, the trigger when actuated by the train wheels kmoving the latch to release the sliding bar and permit the signal to return to `its normal position.

In testimony whereoil I aiitix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' HAZEN E. BALL.

lVtnesses j' FRANK PHILLIPS, j NELLIE BALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IVaceintn` Washington, D. C. 

